Supposedly, breaking a mirror creates seven years of bad luck. But superstitions aside, arriving at your new home with broken glass is just downright inconvenient. Bekins’ team of packing experts can ensure that all of your belongings arrive in one piece—literally. However, if you’re up for the challenge, we’ve created a step-by-step guide on how to pack mirrors for moving.
All of your belongings deserve special care when you move. Choosing Bekins as your full-service moving partner means you’ll have complete and customizable control of every step, from packing to transportation to storage.
Supplies You’ll Need
Before packing fragile items, ensure you have the necessary packing supplies. We suggest stocking up on:
- Mirror boxes (or boxes that are slightly larger than your mirrors)
- Foam or cardboard corner protectors
- Cardboard sheets
- Bubble wrap
- Packing tape
- Packing paper or large and small dish towels
Step One: Unmount Your Mirror
If your mirror is glued, nailed or mounted to the wall, the first step is getting it down. Depending on the mirror’s size, you may want to ask someone to help you lift it from the wall. Start by applying painter’s tape across the glass surface in the shape of an X to prevent damage and potential shattering during the packing and moving process.
For glued mirrors, use a putty knife or flat spatula to pry it from the wall. A steamer or blow dryer can help heat and loosen up the glue for easier removal and less residue. If a mirror is mounted to the wall, lift the mirror off the nails or hooks and slowly lower it to the ground.
Step Two: Clear Your Packing Area
A fragile mirror requires space for packing, especially if it’s large or expensive. Once you’ve dismounted the mirror from the wall, set it down on a flat surface. The kitchen table is a good spot for smaller mirrors, while larger mirrors should be set face up on a towel on the floor for extra cushion.
Step Three: Add Reinforcements
As you decide how to pack a mirror most efficiently, know that you can never have too much protection. Mirrors (or art and posters) that are already displayed in a sturdy frame might not seem like they require much reinforcement. However, you should place corner protectors around framed and unframed mirrors.
Retail stores often supply rubber or foam corner protectors, but you can also craft some out of extra cardboard. Tape the cardboard sheets on both sides of the mirror to serve as a protective barrier during the move.
Step Four: Start Wrapping
To reduce the possibility of arriving with a shattered mirror, start wrapping towels or moving blankets around the mirror. Even though you used cardboard sheets for the mirror’s protection, the soft, cushioned towels are essential against bumps on the moving truck.
Finally, wrap the mirror with an extra layer of bubble wrap. Make sure the towels and bubble wrap cover the surface area of the mirror so that you don’t risk a crack upon arrival. If you’re still not sure how to wrap a mirror for moving, your movers can take care of the job for you.
Step Five: Pack the Mirror
Valuable fragile items are vulnerable on a moving truck, so you’ll want to make sure you fill the bottom of the moving box with packing paper or dish towels for cushioning. Gently slide the wrapped mirror into the box and fill in any gaps with your moving supplies.
If you move your box and feel the mirror moving around, you need to add more packing paper. Label the box with a “fragile” label for extra protection and load the box vertically on moving day.
Make the Move Easier With Bekins
Moving is a challenge and a time-intensive task, especially when you’re dealing with fragile items that require extra care and attention. If you’re not feeling confident about how to pack a mirror for moving, Bekins has all the manpower you need for a stress-free transition.
At Bekins Van Lines, we have over 125 years of experience with residential and commercial moves, whether it’s across town or the country. Each move is treated as though it were our own, and we take great pride in our quality assurance. When you’re ready to make the move, get in touch with an agent for a free estimate!
The material and information contained in this blog are for general information purposes only. Bekins Van Lines cannot predict or guarantee that you will attain a particular result or outcome from implementing the information provided in our blog, and therefore assumes no responsibility or liability as a result. Each individual’s results depend on his or her unique actions and numerous other factors.
